What is the minimum hourly rate for a graduate architect under the Architects Award?

From 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly rate for a Level 1 graduate of architecture (entry) is $34.40 per hour, or $1,307.20 per week for full-time work. This is set by the Fair Work Ombudsman's Architects Award 2020.

How do I calculate my annual salary from an hourly rate?

Multiply your hourly rate by 38 hours per week and then by 52 weeks. For example, $34.40 × 38 × 52 = $67,961.60. Note that the award uses a slightly different divisor (52.1667 weeks) to derive the annual rate, but the 52-week method gives a close estimate.

Does the architect salary include superannuation?

No, superannuation is paid on top of the base salary. The super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830. So a $67,961 salary would attract an additional $8,155 in super contributions.

Architect Salary Guide: Hourly to Annual Conversion Under the Architects Award 2020

A Level 1 graduate of architecture earns $34.40 per hour, equating to approximately $67,961 annually for a 38-hour week, with super and tax applied on top.

Understanding Your Architect Salary

If you're working in architecture in Australia, your pay is governed by the Architects Award 2020, which sets minimum rates for graduates, registered architects, and students. This guide explains how to convert an architect salary from an hourly rate to an annual figure, what you can expect in your fortnightly pay, and how tax and superannuation affect your take-home amount.

We rely on the latest Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides and the Architects Award for all rates. The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, but award rates for architects are higher.

Hourly to Annual Conversion

The standard formula for converting an hourly rate to an annual salary is:

Hourly rate × hours per week × 52 weeks

We assume a full-time week of 38 ordinary hours, as defined in the Architects Award. For example, a Level 1 graduate of architecture (entry) earns $34.40 per hour. Using the formula:

$34.40 × 38 × 52 = $67,961.60 per year

This is a close estimate. The award itself calculates the annual rate using 52.1667 weeks (313/6), giving $68,191 for this classification. The difference is minor and due to rounding. For most purposes, the 52-week method is sufficient.

Fortnightly Pay

Your fortnightly pay is simply your weekly rate multiplied by two. For the same graduate architect:

Weekly rate: $1,307.20
Fortnightly: $2,614.40

This is before tax and any deductions.

Award Rates for Architects

The Architects Award 2020 includes several classification levels. Here are the key minimum hourly rates from 1 July 2026, as published by the Fair Work Ombudsman:

Graduates of Architecture

Level 1 entry: $34.40 per hour
Level 1, 1st pay point: $36.22 per hour
Level 1, 2nd pay point: $38.04 per hour
Level 2(a) experienced graduate: $39.77 per hour

Registered Architects

Level 2(b) entry: $39.77 per hour
Level 2(b), 1st pay point: $41.00 per hour
Level 2(b), 2nd pay point: $42.23 per hour

Students of Architecture

Under 21, first 13 weeks: $12.04 per hour
21 and over: $26.44 per hour (National Minimum Wage)

These rates apply to full-time and part-time employees. Part-time workers are paid the same hourly rate for their agreed hours.

Casual Loading and Superannuation

Casual Loading

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of the base hourly rate, as per clause 10 of the Architects Award. This compensates for the lack of paid leave. For a Level 1 entry graduate, the casual rate is:

$34.40 × 1.25 = $43.00 per hour

Do not include the casual loading in the base rate you enter into a calculator; instead, use the checkbox to add it separately. The loading is paid for all ordinary hours but not for overtime.

Superannuation Guarantee

Super is paid on top of your salary. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a $67,961 annual salary, the employer must contribute an additional $8,155.32 to your super fund. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra cost for the employer.

Tax and Medicare

Your annual salary is subject to income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 financial year, the resident tax rates are:

$0 – $18,200: Nil
$18,201 – $45,000: 15% on excess over $18,200
$45,001 – $135,000: 30% on excess over $45,000
$135,001 – $190,000: 37% on excess over $135,000
Over $190,000: 45% on excess over $190,000

Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. For a single person earning $67,961, the tax estimate would be:

Tax on first $18,200: $0
Tax on $18,201 to $45,000: ($45,000 – $18,200) × 15% = $4,020
Tax on $45,001 to $67,961: ($67,961 – $45,000) × 30% = $6,888.30
Total tax: $10,908.30
Medicare levy: $67,961 × 2% = $1,359.22
Total deductions: $12,267.52
Take-home pay: $55,693.48 per year, or about $1,070.64 per week.

Note that this is a simplified estimate. The Medicare levy reduction thresholds for singles in 2025–26 are used here because the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed. Your actual tax may differ if you have dependants, HELP debt, or salary packaging.

Using Our Tools

To calculate your own figures, try our the timesheet to convert an hourly rate to annual, weekly, and fortnightly amounts. You can also check pay guides for award-specific rates or minimum wage for the national baseline. For a deeper look at tax, see take-home pay.

Summary

An architect salary under the Architects Award starts at $34.40 per hour for a graduate entry level, rising to $42.23 for an experienced registered architect. When converting to annual, use 38 hours per week and 52 weeks. Remember that super is paid on top, casual loading adds 25%, and tax and Medicare reduce your take-home amount. Always refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman for the most current rates.